Bed bugs force shutdown of Kansas City senior center

Tenants of a senior center will have to leave their homes in the heat Monday so the building can be sprayed for bed bugs.

The creepy little bed bugs can sneak in anywhere, like into blankets, mattresses and pillows. But in the case of Paraclete Manor in Kansas City, MO, they can push people out. The situation has angered a lot of families.

"We have to be out of here for at least 24 to 48 hours," Paraclete Manor resident Frank Berry said.

Berry said the residents are having to pay to take all their stuff out of the building while management treats for bed bugs in the income-based retirement home.

"This being a senior citizen building, a lot of people don't have no place to go," Berry said.

Management handed out letters to residents, suggesting nearby hotels and listing prices. Since just about everyone is on a fixed income, the letters also lists a number for a local homeless shelter.

"I don't feel like I need to go to a shelter when I pay my rent," Berry said.

According to another resident, John Neal, every floor is infested with bed bugs and the residents are upset that they have been driven out by the creepy crawlers.

"They got places to go, but I don't have any money to pay," Neal said.

Neal is planning to sleep outside somewhere on the grounds.

"I don't have anywhere else to go," he said. "It is a pain."

The renters say they started reporting bed bugs months ago, and they are glad there is finally some action coming.

"But the bottom line is it should have been done a long ago," Berry said.

Residents, like Berry and Neal, feel they shouldn't have to foot the bill while they are scared to sleep under their own blankets.

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